Lembit Opik Says Nick Clegg Can Not Lead Lib Dems Into Next Election

Nick Clegg will not be able to lead the Liberal Democrats into the next general election, one of his most high profile former MPs has said.

"There's no point in pulling our punches. After a year of research, [we] have concluded that Nick cannot realistically lead the party into the next election without incurring an additional contraction in the number of MPs - directly as a result of his leadership," the ex-MP said.

"We have also identified the lack of a political narrative which was left the party drifting in an identity vacuum while, by contrast, the Conservatives have been remarkably effective at maintaining their focus and image."

Fortunately for the deputy prime minister, the former colleague making the call is Lembit Opik, whose credentials as a serious politician have been somewhat undermined by a series of rather low-brow activities since leaving parliament in 2010.